May 04, 2017

New York attorney general says he’ll sue over GOP’s American Health Care Act

It’s sad that the Republicans have made such a political uproar about repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. In reality, it’s a very modest law that relies on insurance companies to provide health care coverage to millions of low-income Americans. Under the ACA, insurance companies are making record profits.

Eric Schneiderman, New York’s attorney general, said if the health care bill passed Thursday by the House of Representatives, which he calls disastrous and unconstitutional, is signed into law, he’ll challenge it in court.

“The health care bill passed today by House Republicans is a threat to the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers,” Schneiderman said. “In addition to the devastating impact this bill would have on every New Yorker’s access to affordable healthcare, the legislation that passed the House today is unconstitutional in several critical respects – and I stand ready to challenge it in court.”

He said House Republicans’ attempt to deny women access to reproductive health care services is a cruel and unconstitutional attack on women’s rights – especially the most vulnerable.

In addition, the Collins-Faso Amendment is a cynical ploy by House Republican leadership and President Trump that exceeds Congress’s authority by interfering with how New York has long elected to fund its Medicaid program, Schneiderman said.

“This bill threatens to slash essential health care services for millions of New Yorkers who need them the most,” he said.

We’ll see what the Senate decides to do with the Republican proposal. With 24 million people kicked off health care insurance under the Republican plan, health care costs will skyrocket for everyone when low-income consumers go back to emergency rooms to get their care.